Comcast rolls out X1 Platform, On Demand programming in Steamboat

Steamboat Springs  Potential new Comcast customers in Steamboat Springs now will have the opportunity to try the cable provider’s latest DVR technology.

The X1 is available to new Xfinity Triple Play customers across Colorado, according to a news release. Customers who add services to upgrade to any combination of Triple or Quad Play subscriptions also would qualify for the X1. The release states the new technology will be available to more customers in the near future.

“The X1 Platform is a huge leap forward for us and transforms traditional television viewing into an entirely new entertainment experience,” Rich Jennings, Comcast regional vice president, said in the release. “X1 uses cloud-based technology to make the TV smarter, richer and more personalized, and allows us to deliver new features to our customers faster than ever.”

A remote app will allow customers to control the X1 from Apple devices, and the X1 Platform includes apps such as Pandora and Facebook to be used through the TV.

With the new set-top box, Comcast also has launched On Demand programming in the Steamboat area for digital cable customers. On Demand provides music, shows and movies to customers when they choose to watch. It would have appeared as a new menu option for all digital subscribers.

Cindy Parsons, vice president of public relations for Comcast, said the mix of physical system upgrades and technical enhancements to the network allowed On Demand services to expand from the Front Range to Steamboat.

Some Comcast customers recently might have received a notice in the mail informing them of the need to upgrade to a digital set-top box or adapter.

Parsons said the majority of customers already are upgraded to digital service, but a small number need new equipment to complete the transition to all-digital signal.

Converting customers to digital service allows Comcast to easily launch new products and channels, she said.